Chapter 146: Who Touched My Wine Barrels?

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The Pythonmen, as their name suggested, were Beastmen who had the characteristics of a river-dwelling python. They had immense strength and were a rare race of Beastmen that could live in both the water and on land. Unfortunately, similar to the Bullmen and Medusas, there were not many of them either. It was estimated that there were only about ten thousand of them left on the Tailun Continent. There were no more than five thousand living in the thousand-mile radius around Wissen Town, including the old and injured.

On land, even though the Pythonmen’s abilities in close combat were not as strong as the powerful Bullmen and Medusas, they were far more powerful than the Dogmen. Their mastery over blade techniques and their unexpected speed were a nightmare for their enemies. In the water, their offensive capabilities were double and they could hold their own against the Sea Tribe elites.

After Yang Ling learned of the Pythonmen’s considerable abilities, Yang Ling instructed Orlando to serve wine and food. Yang Ling engaged in passionate discussion with Tribe Leader Kendall, working on getting him to agree to stay. He reused his previous strategy, taking out the map of Wissen Town and sketching out the development of his territory.

By that time, he was in possession of heavy infantry including the powerful Bullmen and Ogres, speedy Horned Bee Beasts and Gargoyles, and the Evil Eyes who were comparable to cannoneers. All he lacked was an underwater force.

He would require an elite underwater force as he occupied the Black Water Lake, be it in the short term or the long term, to handle potential threats from inside the lake itself. Who knew what kinds of Magical Beast might be hiding in the depths.

Furthermore, after obtaining sufficient manpower, he intended to follow through with his plan to build a large harbor at the estuary of the Donau River. He required an elite force on the water, to draw sea charts, open up ocean routes between Wissen Town and the other human cities, and to be stationed at the harbor for defense.

The only existing merchant route to Wissen Town connected the town to the Banto Empire and Livenza Alliance through the Aila Mountain Pass. The overland journey was long and arduous. Some of the areas had mountainous roads, some fraught with danger, with bandits lurking around every corner. The cost of transporting goods were very high, severely limiting the territory’s development capacity.

If Yang Ling managed to build a harbor at the estuary of the Donau River and successfully open sea routes to other human cities, the problems surrounding the development of Wissen Town would be solved!

But the premise was that he required a powerful underwater force.

Tribe Leader Kendall considered Yang Ling’s plan. He observed the Bullmen and Dogmen putting their backs into the work, uncomplaining. He gazed out over the boundless Black Water Lake, and accepted Yang Ling’s invitation immediately.

Yang Ling needed an elite army on the water. The Pythonmen, who had a small population, needed a powerful backer and desirable living conditions.

Compared to the stream that they had lived in previously, the Black Water Lake was basically paradise. The water was clear there, and there was an endless supply of food. Furthermore, they had a powerful city acting as their protector…

The two parties agreed! They would help each other.

After bidding his farewells to Yang Ling, Tribe Leader Kendall led his tribesmen and left quickly, preparing to move the tribe to the Black Water Lake.

The Fox Elder watched Tribe Leader Kendall leave quickly. Then he asked, “Sir, winter came exceptionally early this year, and consequently, several tribes do not have enough food to last the winter. Many have expressed their willingness to move to the Black Water Lake or to Wissen Town. But do we have enough rations to support them all through the winter?”

“I have said that I have considerable backstoc of rations in the castle,” said Yang Ling. “All you need to do is try your best to recruit as many of the aboriginal tribes as possible. You can leave the rest to me!”

Yang Ling’s expression remained placid as he poured the worried Fox Elder a cup of rum. Yang Ling needed a large amount of cheap labor to help him develop the land, excavate mines and repair roads. Even if he did not have enough rations on hand in Wissen Castle, he could ship supplies over from the Livenza Alliance through Harribell.

Seeing Yang Ling’s confidence, the Fox Elder felt more at ease. After resting at the Black Water Lake for half a day, he led his personal guards and set off again to recruit the Beastmen tribes that were scattered throughout the Ladak Mountain Range. With sufficient rations to back them up, and the promise of a brighter future, and backed up by his own reputation, the Fox Elder believed that he could quickly recruit many of his clansmen.

After making his way around the Black Water Lake and the Taildon Valley several times, and watching the Ox Chief deftly command the city’s development on the right track, Yang Ling did not stay any longer. He led a team of warriors back to Wissen Town. This time, his team included the Gnome Elder, Twin-headed Ogre Braska, Heavenly Fox Yuna and his personal guard, Orlando.

To maximize the speed of the city’s construction, he left behind most of the Ogres, barbarians, Gnomes and elf archers to help. He instructed his few dozen guards to dress lightly and pick up the pace. In just a day or so, he had successfully returned to Wissen Castle.

“Brother Yang, you are finally back!”

Alice welcomed him warmly when the group had just stepped in, gently patting away the snow that had fallen on Yang Ling. She had been waiting at the door of the castle every day after Goode had told her that Yang Ling was going to come back soon!

“I’ve been munching on dried rations and nothing else on my journey,” sighed Yang Ling. “I’ve been so famished, I don’t know if I will survive if I don’t taste your delicious cooking!” He smiled at Alice, her face red in the cold. He smiled as he recalled the Unicorn beside him.

“Sigh, I’ve been munching on dried rations and nothing else when I was out, I’ll be so famished if I didn’t come back to taste the food you prepared!” Looking at Alice, her face red in the cold, Yang Ling smiled as he recalled the Unicorn beside him.

Alice looked at Yang Ling, dressed in a thin layer of clothing. Then seeing the snow on his clothes, Alice felt a tinge of sourness in her heart, but it was gradually replaced by a sweet feeling. She felt a sense of satisfaction whenever she saw Yang Ling wolfing down the dishes she had prepared.

After serving Yang Ling a cup of hot tea, she personally went to the kitchen and soon after brought out dish after dish of delicacies, flitting around like a happy bird.

After eating half a roast chicken, Yang Ling realized he ought to introduce his guests. He had seen Alice glance a little fearfully at the Twin-headed Ogre eating heartily, and Yang Ling didn’t wish to scare the girl. “Alice, meet Yuna! And this is Braska.”

Twin-headed Ogre?

It would have been fine if Yang Ling had not said anything, but after she heard that Braska was an Ogre, notorious for loving to consume the brain matter of humans, Alice turned pale, and hid behind Yang Ling instinctively.

“Hng, this little… Do you have any more roast chicken? Get me eight or ten more. This is too delicious. Also, I need two more barrels of wine!”

Braska burped, then licked his oily lips and fingers. Seeing Alice personally pouring the wine and bringing out the dishes, he had guessed that she shared a special relationship with Yang Ling, and did not know how to address her in that instant.

Watching Braska wolf down most of the delicacies, including what Alice had prepared especially for Yang Ling, made her a little bit upset. She only went to prepare more food after a gentle prod from Yang Ling.

“Braska, how does the roast chicken taste?” Yang Ling smiled and took a sip of rum, watching the Twin-headed Ogre lick his fingers. The Heavenly Fox Yuna beside them could not help but break into laughter.

She had seen people who could eat a lot, but she had never seen someone who could eat as much as, or was as greedy as the Ogre. He sure lived up to his reputation as a brute!

“Hng, Master, it’s delicious, it’s too delicious. I don’t feel full no matter how much I eat!” Braska patted his stomach as if no one was around.

“En, it does taste quite good, but one roast chicken costs ten Purple Crystal Coins!” Yang Ling continued, “You ate a dozen roast chickens and two lamb legs in a meal, and drank two barrels of rum. Each meal will cost you at least two hundred Purple Crystal Coins!”

The Twin-headed Ogre Braska paled. Two hundred Purple Crystal Coins?

Braska nearly chewed off his own index finger, poised as it was in his mouth at the time. Even though he had never used crystal coins, he still understood that two hundred Purple Crystal Coins was a considerable amount.

“Master, then… then what should I do?”

After patting himself down and not finding a single crystal coin, the Twin-headed Ogre touched the back of his head a little awkwardly.

“It’s just a mere two hundred Crystal Coins, not worth mentioning at all, but…” After whetting the Ogre’s appetite, Yang Ling continued, “From tomorrow onward, I’ll give you a team of soldiers. You’ll hunt in the Terras Forest in the daytime and patrol at night. If you do not complete your tasks, I’m afraid that you will have to eat dried rations!”

In the future, Yang Ling was prepared to form a team of heavy infantry, with the Twin-headed Ogre as its leader, primarily consisting of the Bullmen and Ogres, who would be responsible for holding the front lines. Elite troops did not come naturally, and daily training was a must. Going to hunt within the Terras Forest was a decent choice. It could not only train the troops, it could also help him gather the Essence Crystals and Blood Essence of Magical Beasts.

Furthermore, the Ogre had a ferocious appearance and a notorious reputation. Yang Ling believed that even the troops and adventurers that loved to fight would think twice before acting wherever the Ogres patrolled. This way, he could further enhance Wissen Town’s security.

The Twin-headed Ogre thought about Yang Ling’s words. Orlando and the rest mourned for him, but kept their distance, fearful that they would be tasked with such labors. Hunting was alright for them, but patrolling the area all night like fools sounded like too much work for them.

Working together, Alice and the servants soon arrived with plates upon plates of food.

“Brother Yang, the food is no problem, but are out of rum.” After a moment’s hesitation, Alice continued, “The old butler Murbaqi has already sent men to get wine from the Shangri-La, but I do not know if there’s any left.”

Could the Shangri-La run out of alcohol? Could it be that there was not enough alcohol to meet demands during the time he was gone? Or was there a sudden batch of troops and adventurers that have arrived in town?

Yang Ling creased his brows. The refinery should have been able to easily keep up with demand. There was no way that there was a supply shortage!

Alice realized that Yang Ling was having trouble understanding how there could be a shortage. “Brother Yang, during your absence, someone has been breaking into the Shangri-La, and taking a few sips from every barrel. This ruined many of our finest wines, and crushed a few wine barrels too. Good sent people to defend the Shangri-La several times, but they weren’t able to catch the culprit.”

This was too surprising! Yang Ling would never have dreamed that this was the reason for a shortage. He could not think of who would cause trouble at the Shangri-La. He wondered silently who the thief was, and of their intentions.

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